What’s Causing Your Low Back Pain?

If you’ve ever experienced lower back pain, you’re well aware of the debilitating symptoms, such as:

• Difficulty moving, causing severe pain when walking or standing
• Pain around to the groin, buttock, upper thigh, or a combination of — typically felt on one side the rear or leg only
• Inflammation
• Dull, achy pain
• Burning, tingling pain
• Numbness and weakness in the leg or foot
• Severe muscle spasm
• Tenderness and soreness upon touch

So what are the common causes of low back pain and how can you ease symptoms?

According to Spine-Health, there are several common causes associated with lower back pain, including muscle strain, ligament strain, lumbar herniated discs, and more. That includes lifting a heavy object or weight lifting with bad form, twisting, reaching, or even a sudden movement can cause muscle or ligament strain.

Other causes may include diseases such as:

Degenerative disc disease: Often treated successfully, this illness affects individuals as young as 20. When the lumbar discs sitting between the vertebrae begin to waste away, damaged discs become inflamed and bring about pain and muscle spasms.

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Sciatica: This condition describes the symptoms caused when a nerve root in the lower spine is compressed, causing pain and numbness to travel along the large sciatic nerve that serves the booty, legs and feet.

Sacroiliac joint disease: this occurs when there’s too much or too little movement in the sacroiliac joint, which connects the sacrum at the bottom of the spine to the hip on each side.

Spondylolisthesis: As we age, normal wear and tear makes it hard for our joints and ligaments to keep the spine in the proper position. When a vertebra slips forward onto the bone below it, bones can press up against the spinal nerves, causing dull, achy pain.

Vertebral fractures caused by brittle bones, better known as osteoporosis.

Spinal stenosis: This narrowing of the spinal canal also places pressure on nerves.

Scoliosis: This is an abnormal curvature of the spine that can cause back pain.

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Obesity

Kidney infection

Paget’s disease of bone: interferes with your body’s normal recycling process, in which new bone tissue gradually replaces aged bone tissue. Over time, affected bones become fragile and deformed, which may cause pinched nerves in the spine.

Less common lower back pain can be warning persons of a more serious medical condition, such as diabetes or a pinched nerve accompanied by fever, chills, night sweats, or loss of bladder control.

Meanwhile, experts suggest easing discomfort with physical therapy, over-the-counter pain relievers and gentle stretching like with yoga. However, it is important to note that in most cases, the pain will decrease on its own, within four to six weeks. See your doctor if back pain is ongoing.